‘International Tourism Sustainability Conference 2011’

 

 

It gave me great pleasure to launch the Opening Ceremony of the International Tourism and Sustainability Conference 2011 organised jointly by the School of Sustainable Development and Tourism of the UTM and the University of Bedfordshire, UK.  As Minister of Tertiary Education, it is for me a matter of pride that one of our tertiary institutions is organizing such a conference in Mauritius, with the participation of many academics, experts locally and from abroad among others UK, India, Malaysia, Romania, Spain, Kenya, and Tanzania. We will certainly benefit from their presence and contribution on a subject that is very topical today and which will influence the type and quality of life of future generations and the very survival of our planet. The theme of this conference “Embracing Social and Environmental Change: the Influence and Role of Tourism”. My message to all of them is to ensure that at the end of these three days, we are better informed of the concept of sustainability in tourism for the planet and what it means for all of us. They will hopefully come up with new findings and recommendations that will further add to the existing knowledge and literature. I wish them all a very successful and fruitful conference and thank the staff of UTM, in particular Dr Durbarry Head of School of Sustainable Development, UTM and Conference Co-Chair and Professor Andrew Holden, Conference Co-Chair, University of Bedfordshire, for convening this conference.

Meeting ‘Centers for Learning on Evaluation & Results’ (CLEAR) Delegation

 

I  had a meeting with Ms.N. Khattri, Senior Evaluation Officer , X.F Fernandez Ordonez, CLEAR Secretariat, Independent Evaluation Group from World Bank, ,UOM representatives and other officials of my Ministry  to discuss the objectives of the CLEAR(Centers for learning on Evaluation and Results)  Initiative. CLEAR is a mutiregional program, whose goal is to contribute to strengthening the monitoring , evaluation and results-based management capacity  of countries to attain development outcomes. The UOM is one of the shortlisted institutions which is participating in the bidding process to host the proposed  CLEAR center in Francophone  Africa.

‘Planting of tree at the University of Mauritius’

Hon. Naledi Pandor, Minister of Science and Technology of the Republic of South Africa and her delegation, actually in Mauritius for the ‘Square Kilometre Array Radio Telescope (SKA) Project’, were invited for the planting of a tree at the University of Mauritius.

‘Presentation of the Square Kilometre Array Radio Telescope (SKA) Project’

 

 

 I would like to extend a very warm welcome to Hon. Naledi Pandor, Minister of Science and Technology of the Republic of South Africa and to members of her delegation to Mauritius and wish them all a pleasant stay with us. I had a meeting at the UOM and the main purpose was to take cognizance of the status of the African Square Kilometre Array Telescope (SKA) bid as well as the progress made on the project. For those who are hearing of this project today, I am sure you will understand that if this facility is constructed in Africa, it will uplift the Continent to the forefront of science for years to come. Officials of my Ministry and of the Mauritius Research Council have been actively engaged in the various meetings.  Once the setting up of the radio astronomy facility, the University of Mauritius will be called through the Mauritius Radio Telescope Department to play an active role. Students and scientists from several African countries have benefited from these grants through a dedicated programme which have led to radio astronomy and related programmes being offered in other universities including in Mauritius. My Ministry looks forward to contributing in the successful implementation of the SKA Project.

‘Visit of Delegation from South Africa’

 

I met with Mrs. Naledi Pandor, Minister of Science and Technology along with her delegation from South Africa, to discuss avenues of cooperation between South Africa and Mauritius mostly in the field of Science and Technology.